Loom-shuttle.



411H61. JZB. Patented Feb. I2, |901.

J. T. AHRENS.

LOOM SHUTTLE.

(Apphcatinn led Jan. 4,1900. Renewed Jan, 15, 1901.) (N0 Modal.)

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JOHN l. AHRFNS, OF \VILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOWILLL/llll F. SMALLEY AND ELVOOD T. KNIGHT, OF SAME PLACE.

LOU-SHUTTLE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,123,dated February 12, 190i.

Application lod January 4, 1900. Renewed January 15, 1901. n'crial No.13,331. (No model.)

To al?, 'l1/710712, '1lb may] concern.'

De it known that I, JOHN T. AHRENS, of lNilmington, in the county of NewCastle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Loom-Shuttles,

of which the following isa specification.

The present invention consists in improved means for maintaining thebobbin-spindle of a loom-shuttle in place during the ordinary 1o use ofthe shuttle and for maintaining the spindle in its open position duringthe removal and replacing of a bobbin or cop.

The present improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein- Figure 1 is a side view of the spindle-pivot end of aloom-shuttle. Fig. 2 is a top View of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 arecentral vertical longitudinal sections illustrating the spindle in twopositions, Fig. 3 also showing a zo bobbin in place. Fig. 5 is ahorizontal section. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, and Fig. 7 avertical section, illustrating a modied form of the spindle-holdingspring. Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, are drawn to a scale twice as large asthat to which Figs. l and 2 are drawn.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,Ais the body of the shuttle, having` the usual central channel a., inwhich is located the bobbin B. The bobgo bin is slipped onto a spindleC, which is pivoted at one end on a shaft Z9, extending crosswise of theshuttle.

For the sake of clearness in description the end of the shuttle to whichthe spindle is pivoted will be considered the rear end, and the face ofthe shuttle shown in Fig. 2, and which is at the top in Figs. 3, 4, and7, will be considered the upper face of the shuttle. ln referring to theother portions of the 4o shuttle, such as the bobbin-spindle andbobbin-spring, the same phraseology will be used as a matter ofconvenience. It is to be understood, however, that such words eX- pressrelative position only and do not re- /15 strict the use of the shuttlein a particular position.

The spindle O at its rear end has a head o, which cooperates with theshaft b and with the spindle-spring D. This spindle-head has 5o a slot(Z, which embraces and slips over the shaft l). This spindle-slot isopen on the top of the spindle-head, and when the spindle is in itsclosed and operating position, as shown in Fig. 3, this slot extendsupwardly and rearwardly. The spindle-head isplaced in position byslipping it beneath and behind the shaft b, and the bottom oi' thespindle-slot d bears against the inner side of the shaft l) when thespindle is in its operating position. The circular bottom of thespindle-slot d, 6o which embraces the cylindrical shaft ZJ, it will benoted, extends through somewhat more than half a circle, so that whenthe spindle occupies its uplifted or opened position (shown in Fig. 4) adownward movement upon 65 the spindle-head is necessary in order to re-glease the spindle from the shaft. This insures the proper cooperation ofthe spindle and shaft when the shuttle is in use and aids in preventingthe accidental displacement of 7o the spindle from the shaft. Theshuttlebody has a shuttle-slot e, open at the top, closed at the bottom,and opening at the front into the bobbin-channel a, which is for thereception of the spindle-head and which is just wide enough to receiveit, as shown in Fig. 2. This prevents anyobjectionable sidewise movementof the spindle.

The spindle-head has at its bottom and rear two flat retaining-facesfand f, arranged at 8o an angle to each other and connected by an easycurve, against which the spindle-spring D bears in alternation. The facefis the face against which the spindle-spring bears to hold the spindlein its operating position, (shown in Fig. 3,) while the spring bearsagainst the other face g to maintain the spindle open, as shown in Fig.f1. Each retaining-face when operating is below and behind the shaft b.The spindle-head has a depend- 9o ing tongue h, against which the rearend of the bobbin seats, and which also, by coming intocontactwiththespringD,lirnitsthe downward movement of the spindle.

The spindle-spring D is located and concealed within the shuttle-slot eand is composed of a single-piece of wire bent into proper shape, bothto coperate with the spindle-facesfand g and to furnish t e means forpreventing the endwise slippi g of the roc bobbin upon the spindle, andis also coiled so as to enable itto perform its oiiice as a spring. Asshown in Figs. by, 4, and 5, the two ends of the wire constituting thespring are embedded in the material (usually wood) of the shuttle-bodyconstituting the bottom t' of the slot e. From each of these ends thewire extends rearwardly and isvbent to constitute spring-coils j,located at the rear of the-shuttle-slot e, and thence proceeds forwardlyin two parallel lines above the bottom of the slot e beneath and behindthe spindlehead, these two parallel strands constituting the pressingportion or presser 7c of the spring which seats against theretaining-facesfg of the spindle-head. The two strands of the wireextend forwardly and inwardly from the presser, constituting a depressedloop l to permit the reception of the tongue h of 'the spindle-head andthe rear enlarged end of the bobbin B. From this loop l the two strandsof the wire extend outwardly and thence transversely, merging intoeachother at the middle portion of the wire and here constituting abobbin-catch m for engaging the usual peripheral groove 'n at the rearend of the bobbin, thereby preventing endwise slipping of the bobbin onthe spindle when the shuttle'is in use. The spindle-spring thus made ofwire furnishes in itself means for attaching it to the shuttle-body,spring-coils, a presser bearing against the spindle-head to hold thespindle in its two positions, and a bobbin-catch for holding lthe bobbinin place on the spindle.

Preferably the bobbin-spring D is further held in place in the shuttleby means of a transversely-extending pin o, extending crosswise of theshuttle slot e and extending through the coilsj of the spring, as shownin Figs. 3, 4, and 5. While this pin o is desirable, itis not essential,and in the modified form shown in Figs. 6 and '7 this pin is omitted,reliance being had upon the ends of the Wire constituting the springbeing embedded in the shuttle-body to hold the spring in place.

The spindle spring presses outwardly againstthe spindle-head, therebyholding the efficiency of the spring.

bottom of the sloty cl firmly against the inner side ofthe shaft h witheffective frictional resistance both when the spindle is in itsoperating position, as shown in Fig. 3, and when.

it is in its uplifted or open position for the removal and insertion ofbobbins, as shown in Fig. 4. The presser 7c ofthe spindle-spring, itwill be noted, has a very considerable available play between the bottomi of the slot e and the innerside of the spindle-head. Consequently itbecomes possible to make the spring sufficiently powerful to efficientlycompensate for any wear which may take place on the spindle-head. Thespring is made sufficiently strong to seat firmly and with ample forceupon the inner side of the shaft ditselt' when the spindle is removed,and consequently the spindle-head can Wear to any extent until it Wearsthrough at the bottom,

of the slot CZ without impairing the holding This is an important scenesfeature of the improved construction, since` with the ordinaryconstruction of loom-shuttle-such as-is shown, for example, in Figs. land 2 of thel drawings annexed to Letters Patent of the United StatesNo. 496,766, dated May 2, l893when the spindle-head becomes worn thespring is no longer efficient and the spindle must be removed and a newone inserted. With the present construction the life of the spindle ismaterially prolonged.

The bobbin-catch m, carried by the spring itself, performs efficientlythe usual offices of bobbin-catches, automatically engaging the bobbingroove n when the spindle is returned to its operating position, and thebobbin beingautomatically released therefrom when the spindle iselevated to the position shown in Fig. 4. The improved construction,however, provides a single instrumentality, serving both as thebobbin-catch and as the spindle-spring, thus greatly simplifying theconstruction of the shuttle. Another advantage of the present improvedconst-ruction'in this respect is that as the spindle is swung outwardlyto the position shown in Fig. 4 the spindle-head acts upon the spin`dle-spring to slightlydepress the same, thereby depressing thebobbincatch m, and consequently facilitating the disengagement of thebobbin-catch from the bobbin-groove. This avoids entirely any danger ofthe bobbin-catch chipping the bobbin, which is so usual in the ordinaryconstruction of spindles, this chipping damaging the bobbin andeventually rendering it unusable. To avoid this chipping, it has in thepast been customary to clad the rear of the wooden bobbin' withasheet-metal rim, thus adding to the expense. This cladding is renderedwholly unnecessary by the present construction, which provides ayielding bobbin-catch which is operatively connected with thespindlespring, so as to be automatically depressed when the spindle islifted.

The improved construction obviates the use of all screws, which wouldtend to split the body of the shuttle, and obviates the presence of anyparts on the outside of the shuttle which are apt to become looseanddamage the product of the loom. As shown in Fig. l, the only partswhich appear on one side of the bobbin are the slinken ends of the shaftb (see Fig. 5) and the pin 0,and, as heretofore stated and asshown inFig. 7, the latter may be omitted. From the opposite side of the shuttlenothing can be seen, as is evident from an inspection of Fig. 5. Fig. 2shows the appearance of the shuttle looking down upon its top, thecontourof the shuttle-slot e being seen. An inspection of Figs. 3 and 4shows that even less is seen by looking at the bottom of the shuttle.The spindle-spring is practically concealed. The entire mechanism of theshuttle consists of four parts only-the spindle, its shaft, and thespring, withits pin, and even this pin can be omitted. advantage of thisconstruction is that the IOO IIO

Another scenes spindle C is separable from the shaft and can be readilyand quickly removed and replaced. This is an imgortant feature, since inthe hurry of removing and replacing bobbins, especially in the hands ofcareless operatives, the spindles are apt to become bent, thus in theusual construction necessitating the delay required to send the shuttleto the repairshop. In accordance with the present invention when thespindle is uplifted, as shown in Fig. 4, a forward and downward pressureupon the spindle-head, which is readily applied, suffices to disconnectthe spindle from its shaft.

The improved construction thus combines simplicity, economy, efficiency,and durability.

in the construction shown in Figs. (i and 7 the several parts are thesame,except that the single wire ont of-fwhich the combinedspinille-spring and bobbin-catch is made is bent in a different way toaccomplish nearly the same results and the pin o is omitted. Thedrawings illustrate the manner in which the wire is bent so clearly asto render detail description, it is thought, unnecessary. It will benoted that in the construction shown in these figures the bobbin-catchis not moved when the spindle is turned on its pivot, and for thisreason the construction shown in Figs.

to 5 is preferred.

The wire constituting` the bobbin-catch 'In in both modificationsthereof is suitably bent so as to afford an extended contact between thebobbin-catch and the bobbin. In both modifications illustrating thebobbin-catch the bobbin-catch is a freely-yielding one susceptible ofconsiderable play, so that if a careless operative fails to push thebobbin home against the head of the spindle (as frequently occurs) andthen swings the spindle down into place, thus forcing the enlarged endof the bobbin against the bobbin-catch, the latter will yield, and thusavoid damage either to itself, the bobbin, or the shuttlebody.

As shown in the modification illustrated in Figs. G and 7, the presserof the spindlespring is constituted by the middle portion of the wire,which furnishes a bent end or loop constituting the stop, against whichthe tongue 7L of the spindle adapted to abut, thereby limiting' theinward swing of the spindle, thus accomplishing the same office as thedownwardlyextending portion of the loopl of the construction shown inFigs. 3 and 4.

l claim as my inventioni. A shuttle having, in combination ashuttle-body having a slot at its rear end open at its top; a shaftextending transversely across said shuttle-slot; a spindle having a headprovided with an open-mouthed slot on its outer side which embraces saidshaft, the bottom of said spindle-slot bearing against the inner side ofsaid shaft, said head being also provided with retaining-faces at anangle to each other both being below and behind said shaft whenoperative, and said head being also provided with a depending tongueagainst which the bobbin seats; a combined spindlespriugand bobbin-catchlocated in the shuttleslot behind said shaft, and composed of a singlepiece of wire bent into shape to constitute spring-coils, a presseradapted to bear outwardly against the retaining-faces of thespindle-head, a bobbin-catch, and a depending loop uniting thebobbin-catch and presser accommodating the depending tongue of thespindle-head and serving as a stop therefor to limit the inward swing ofthe spindle, the ends of said wire being connected with theshuttle-body; and a pin extending transversely across said shuttle-slotand through the spring-coils of said spindle-spring, substantially asset forth.

2. A shuttle having, in combination, a shuttle-body having a slot at itsrear end open at it-s top, a shaft extending transversely across saidshuttle-slot; a spindle having a head provided with an open-mouthed sloton its outer side which embraces said shaft, the bottom of saidspindle-slot bearing against the inner side of said shaft, said headbeing also provided with retaining-faces at an angle to each other bothbeing below and behind said shaft when operative, and said head beingalso provided with a depending tongue against which the bobbin seats;anda combined spindle-spring and bobbin-catch located in theshuttle-slot behind said shaft, and composed of a single piece of wirebent into shape to con stitute spring-coils, a presser adapted to bearoutwardly against the retaining-faces of the spindle-head, abobbin-catch, and a depending loop uniting the bob bin-catch and presseraccommodating the depending tongue of the spindle-head and serving as astop therefor to limit the inward swing of the spindle, the ends of saidwire being connected with the shuttle-body, substantially as set forth.

A shuttle having, in combination, a shuttle-body having a slot at itsrear end open at its top; a shaft extending transversely across said shlittle-slot; a spindle having ahead provided with an open-mouthed sloton its outer side which embraces said shaft, the bottom of saidspindle-slot bearing against the inner side of said shaft, and said headbeing also provided with retaining-faces at an angle to each other bothbeing below and behind said shaft when operative; a combinedspindlespring and bobbin-catch located in the shuttleslot behind saidshaft, and composed of a single piece of Wire bent into shape toconstitute spring-coils, a presser adapted to bear outwardly against theretaining-faces of the spindle-head, and a bobbin-catch, the ends ofsaid wire being connected with the shuttlebody, substantially as setfort-h.

4. A shuttle having, in combination, a shuttle body; a shaft extendingtransversely across said shuttle; a spindle having a head provided withan open-mouthed slot on its outer side which embraces said shaft, the

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bottom of said spindle-slot bearing against the inner side of saidshaft, and said head being also provided with retaining-faces at anangle to each other both being below and behind said shaft whenoperative; a combined spindle-spring and bobbin-catch located behindsaid shaft, and composed of a single piece of wire bent into shape toconstitute spring-coils, a presser adapted to bear out- Wardly againstthe retaining-faces of the spindle-head, and a bobbin-catch,substantially asset forth. v

5. A shuttle having, in combination, a shuttle body; a shaft extendingtransversely across said shuttle; a spindle turning on said shaft; and acombined spindle-spriug and bobbin-catch composed of a single piece of`Wire bent into shape to constitute springcoils, a presser adapted tobear against the spindle, and a bobbin-catch, substantially as setforth. 6. Ashuttle having, in combination, ashuttle body; a shaftextending transversely across said shuttle; a spindle turning on saidshaft; a spindle-spring located behind said shaft, and composed ofasingle piece of Wire bent into shape to constitute spring-coils, and apresser adapted to bear outwardly against the spindle; and a pinextending transversely across said shuttle and through the springcoilsof said spindle-spring, substantially as set forth.

7. A shuttle having, in combination, a shuttlc-body; a spindle turningon said shaft; and a spindle-spring composed of a single piece of Wirebent into shape to constitute springcoils and a presser adapted to bearagainst the spindle, substantially as set forth.

8. Ashuttle having,in combination, a shaft, a bobbin-spindle separablyyconnected With said shaft by means of a slot in its head, the bottom ofsaid slot bearing against the inner side of said shaft, a Wirespindle-spring located behind the shaft and bearing upon the inner sideof the spindle-head, anda yielding bobbin catch integral with saidspindle spring, substantially as set forth.

9. A shuttle having, in combination a separable swinging bobbin-spindle,a Wire spindle-spring coperating with said spindle to maintain it inplace, and a yielding bobbincatch, integral with said spindle-spring,substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of tWosubscribing Witnesses.

JOHN T. AHRENS. Witnesses:

HENRY R. SMITH, MICHAEL VOLK.

